Productions realized

A hope for the almost forgotten

Documentary film about street children in Bolivia
by Andreas Wunn,
Editor ZDF

Street children in La Paz

TV short film by Fabian Weber, Bolivia

Railway romance "Bolivia's Andean Railway" (Bolivia)

A train ride through Bolivia is one of the most beautiful experiences you can have. This is because you can experience both the landscape and history of the Andean country at the same time.

Railway romance "Bolivia's Oriental Express" (Bolivia)

In the Bolivian lowlands, you can see rainforest, steppe, spectacular jungle mountains, and a real desert. It sounds adventurous. And it is.

Railway romance "End Station Desert" (Bolivia)

The starting point of our journey with the “Expreso del Sur” is the Bolivian capital, La Paz, which is 3,600 meters above sea level. Passing snow-capped volcanoes, the breath-taking ride takes you across the Bolivian highlands to the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt lake.

​​​​Railway romance "The Death Railway" (Brazil)

The Rio Mamoré and Rio Madeira area once had the reputation of being the most inhospitable in the world. During the rubber boom, increasingly more white people settled in the area and sought their fortune in the rubber trade.
In 1907, the American company May, Jeckyll & Randolph planned a 364-km long railway line from Rio Madeira to the Bolivian border town of Riberalta. 
Fifteen years later, the track was completed. However, more than 6,000 workers lost their lives for this cause. They died of yellow fever and malaria or drowned while building bridges in the rapids of the river. Therefore also the name: The Death Railway

Railway romance "Steel Ribbon Through Argentina's Mountain Desert Ramal C 14"

Construction of the Ramal C14 began in 1921. It took a painstaking 27 years to complete the 617-km route.
Twentyone tunnels, 44 bridges, and several viaducts had to be built for the Transandino del Norte, which leads up into the mountain desert of the Andes to an altitude of almost 4,500 m above sea level.
​​​​​​​Today, this route sees little traffic. Since 1984, there have been no passenger trains. Only a few freight trains and a Chilean gas transport train now use this special route. But from time to time, the “Tren a las Nubes” (English: train to the clouds) takes tourists into the unique world of the Andes.

Bon Voyage Bolivia “A Travel Magazine”

Some of Bolivia’s attractions are located 5,000 m above sea level. For visitors this means: thin air and breathing problems. La Paz is located in an Andean gorge on a length of almost 30 km. Lake Titicaca is only a few hours’ drive away. The expansive blue water surface offers an incomparable panorama with the snow-capped Andean peaks. On a trip to the Bolivian part of the Amazon basin, you will experience altitude differences of more than 4,000 m and a temperature change of 25°C. The “green hell” after the sky-scraping Andes is quite a contrast.

​​​​​​​Bon Voyage Brazil “Brazil’s West”

The topics and stations: the Bolivian Andes with Rio Coroico and Rio Beni; the Madidi National Park; new settlements in the jungle; the town of Guajará-Mirin on the border with Brazil; the gold prospectors on the Rio Madeira.    

Bon Voyage Argentina “Of Gauchos, Tango Dancers, and the Indians of the Andes”

Argentina, the second largest country in South America, attracts visitors with its extreme contrasts: The tropical virgin forests alternate with 6,000-m-high mountain ranges. The dry pampas merge into the barren mountain deserts of the Andes and icy glacier regions. On horseback, you will follow in the footsteps of the former Andean army to the winter world of the almost 7,000-m-high Aconcagua. In the North-west of the country lies the fascinating world of the Puna. At 4,000 m above sea level, the high mountain valleys in the Andes demand a lot from people. But their barren beauty makes them among the most exciting destinations in Argentina.

Countries, People, Adventure "Green Jungle White Sea" (Bolivia)

Bolivia is not an easy destination. That’s because some of its destinations are located at 5,000 m above sea level. For Europeans, this means thin air and breathing problems. For example, the metropolis of La Paz is home to the world’s highest civil airport at 4,020 m above sea level. La Paz stretches 30 km along an Andean gorge. The sea of houses and the snow-capped mighty mountain of Illimani (6,402 meters) creates a unique view. La Paz is not the capital of Bolivia. However, the government is located here. The city is considered the commercial centre of the country. Steep alleys, stalls of “herb witches” and “sorcerers” abound as do colourful markets and restored colonial alleys in the upper town.
As if the contrasts between the metropolis of La Paz, the arid, cold highlands, and the idyllic landscape on Lake Titicaca were not already big enough: Bolivia offers even more contrast. On a trip to the Bolivian part of the Amazon basin, you will experience altitude differences of over 4,000 m and a temperature change of 25°C. Three hours by plane from the economic centre of Santa Cruz lies the Noel Kempff National Park on the border with Brazil. If you are lucky, you will find river dolphins, tapirs, sea turtles, and monkeys in the jungle reserve. But most of the time, they remain hidden in the dense jungle of leaves and only make themselves heard.  

Countries, People, Adventure "Expedition Amazonica I: How the waters flow" (Brazil)

The topics and stations: the Bolivian Andes with Rio Coroico and Rio Beni; the Madidi National Park; new settlements in the jungle; the town of Guajará-Mirin on the border with Brazil; the gold prospectors on the Rio Madeira. 

Countries, People, Adventure "Expedition Amazonica II: Where the trees have songs" (Brasil)

The topics and stations: Woodcutters in the rainforest; Indian village on the Rio Purus; cattle breeders on road 364; the miners of Bom Futuro; the jungle town of Làbrea at the end of the “Transamazonica”; the metropolis of Manaus.

By train through Bolivia

A journey through Bolivia is breath-taking – both literally and figuratively. On one hand, there are the breath-taking images of landscapes. It’s difficult to imagine anything more beautiful. A large part of Bolivia is also quite literally breath-taking. At an altitude of more than 4,000 m, they tower over Europe’s mountains.
In order to discover Bolivia for yourself, you need a little time. And by railway, you can certainly get to the most beautiful parts of this Andean country. bb Before our journey of discovery through this fantastic country ends, we take a train ride from Oruro to Villazon. Show the celebrations of Todos Santos (All Saints’ Day) in Pulacayo and the second largest silver mine in the world above Uyuni. And finally, revive the spirit of US railway robbers Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid on one of the most beautiful railway lines in South America between Tupiza and Villazon.

Travel photography report Bolivia

(Photographer Ralf Grothe)

Travel photography report Brazil

(Photographer Ralf Grothe)

Exposición de Fotografías La Paz - Sus Caras, Bolivia

(Photographer Julian Salinas)

Workshop travel photography Peru/Bolivia

(Photographer Ralph Hoppe)